Slicing machine



y 1940- J. J KALLs ET AL 2,2 8,638

SLICING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l Ink/67222719.-tfoaaf JuZdzJ/faZZai L/fi/zczmffallafi,

y 1940- J. JLKALLGS irr AL 2,2 ,638

SLICING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2.

INK/92237153 k/Bsef JZZZZZJI Q1105 Jb/Zmfzllas y 1940- J. .1. KALLOS ElAL 3,638

SLICING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f 72082250219:fisefI/aldzsjzllaa jaizczrzmfialfai Patented July 23, 1940 PATENT OFFICESLICING MACHINE Josef Julius Kallos and Johann Kalls, Budapest, Hungary,assignors to U. S. Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, Ind.

Application June 27, 1939, Serial No. 281,386 In Hungary July 26, 193730 Claims.

This invention relates to slicing machines having so-calledslice-stacking mechanism, the func-- tion of which is to take eachsuccessive slice as it is being cut by the knife of the machine, conveythe slice to a predetermined position and there discharge the slice uponany appropriate slicereceiver, usually a part of the machine. Thus, needfor handling the slices by the operator can be more or less entirelyavoided.

An object of the invention is to make improvements in slice-stackingmechanism of the type including a slice-discharging fly which is movablewith the slice conveyor.

Another object is to provide a conveyor which is collapsible, orclosable fanwise to give lostmotion between the conveyor and the fly.

Another object is so to operate a component of the conveyor that,despite the collapsibility thereof, the slice-engaging elements willmove 20 in strict harmony with the meat or other substance on the usualreciprocating carriage of the machine throughout at least theslice-impalement action.

Another object is. to lock the conveyor and fly 5 temporarily in theslice-discharging position against sidewise displacement therefrom inorder to ensure discharge of the slices in an unchanging place, so thata neat stack of uncreased slices will be built.

Another object is to lock the fly firmly for a short period at the endof its slice-discharging operation in order to avoid harmful vibration.

Yet another object of the invention is to combine stacking mechanismwith a slicing machine 35 having a push-pull carriage-that is, acarriage whose stroke is variable at the will of the operator to suitthe size of the substancethe combination to be such that the carriagestroke can be varied without afiecting the harmony between 40 thecarriage and the slice conveyor.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingspecification and claims.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan of a slicing machineequipped with the improved stacking mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the slice conveyor and section of thedischarge fiy, the view being to a larger scale than Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan of a fork-like carrier of the slice-discharging fly,and of associated working parts, this view being also to a larger scalethan .Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are an elevation and plan respectively and an automaticdevice for locking the discharge fly when in its lowermost position.

Fig. '7 is a view in isometric projection of a component of theconveyor.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the slicing machine, known in itself,comprises a vertical circular knife 2 which is rotated about astationary axis by an electric motor 1 and a substance-supportingcarriage 5 which can be manually pushed and 10 pulled to-and-fro pastthe knife by means of a'hand grip 3, a clamp 4 being provided to holdthe "substance on the carriage. The length of the stroke of the carriageis variable at the Will of the operator. Springs 6 serve to press theclamped substance towards a vertical slice-thickness-determiningabutment plate I, the plane of which is parallel to the general slicingplane of the knife. The plate I by means of a hand lever B and mechanismnot shown, is adjustable with a parallel motion to vary the size of thegap between the slice-cutting edge of the knife 2 and the adjacent edgeof the plate I and the space between the vertical planes of the knifeand plate, so that the thickness of the slices to 5 be cut from thesubstance can be regulated at will.

The slice-stacking mechanism is located by a vertical axle -l I, whichis stationarily secured to the sole-plate 9 of the frame of the slicingmachine and to a bracket ID on the housing of the motor. On this axle isjournalled an assembly of upright supports I21 I29 (there being nine ofthese supports in the example). These supports are arranged side-by-sideand are collapsible fanwise towards one another about the axle ll.Slice-impaling needles I31 139 are secured by screwing to the respectivesupports, a vertical side of each of the supports having a rowof theseneedles (see Figs. 2, 3 and 7). These supports are the main componentsof the slice conveyor of the stacking mechanism. On up per and lowerhorizontal limbs of the supports I21 I29 there are provided elongatedslots 14 and on the respective neighbouring supports H22 I29 there arepins l5 which engage said slots so that the supports are coupled to oneanother with lost-motion, or play; and it isby virtue of suchlost-motion that the supports can be laterally collapsed and opened in'a fanlike manner .to an extent limited by the series of connections l4,IS.

The first support 121 of the assembly has a %bent extension IE to whichone end of a flexible metal band I! is attached. This band is 'movablein an S-form guide groove I8 provided in the sole-plate 9. In one oreach vertical wall of the guide groove I8 serrations or corrugations areprovided (Fig. 1) to reduce friction between the groove and the band. Itwill be seen that the serrations present contact surfaces extendingparallel to the line of motion of the band. The other end ofthe band I!is attached to a lower part of the carriage 5 so that the usualto-and-fro motion of the carriage results in a corresponding motion ofthe conveyor component I21.

The impalement action of the conveyor needles I31 I39 is assisted by astationary guide I9 behind the knife edge and a guide which is securedto the abutment plate I and therefore is adjustable therewith, theseguides being formed combwise or with horizontal slots in known manner.to permit passage of the needles through the respective guides.

The coupling between the conveyor component I21 and thesubstance-carrying carriage 5 of the machine need not take the form of aflexible metal band, as in the construction illustrated, but may insteadtake the form of levers, linkages, toothed gearing or other appropriatemeans of transmission adapted to ensure that 'themotion of the componentI 21 agrees exactly .one arm of a two-armed lever 22. Parallelarcuatesuperposed slice-engaging ribs 24 extend horizohtally from eachof said side members to the other at levels midway between the needlesof each vertical row. The lever 22 is mounted on a fulcrum-shaft 26which is journalled in the ends of the side-members of the fork-likeflycarrier which is journalled on the axle II.

The fly-carrier 25 is positively connected by a rigid verticalmotion-transmitting bar IGI to an arm I60 which is journalled on theaxle II and which is secured to the last conveyor-needle support I29 ofthe assembly. Thus it will be clear that, whilst the first supportI21'is positively driven by the carriage 5 in .exact harmony therewith,the fly, its carrier 25 and the last support I29 ,form a single unitwhich is rotatable about the axle I I and which is coupled to the firstsupport I21 with the lost-motion provided by the serie's'of pin-and-slotconnections I4, I5.

One of the arms of the lever 22 extends inwardly, and this arm ispivotally connected to ,a vertical operating pin 29 (see Figs. 4, 5 and6) which is guided in a-boss 28 on a cross-member 21 of the fly-carrier25. A cam secured to the extension I6 of the first support I21 has anactive lower edge whichpresents an inclined profile and which is adaptedto act upon the top of the pin 29 whenever sufiicient relativerotational motion between the fly-carrier and the first-support I21-occurs. The arrangement is such that, in rotation of the support I21 andcam 30 in counter-clockwise direction (as seen from above) while the flyand its carrier are temporarily at rest, the pin 29 is depressed by saidcam and forces the lever 22 to pivot with the discharge fly into theupright position thereof. This pivotal action is performed againsttheresistance of two torsion springs M which are arranged at oppositesides of the lever 22 and-which .thus become. stressed andstore upsufficient energy for subsequent performance of the slice-dischargingoperation.

The lever 22, in the upright position of the discharge fly, isdetachably locked by a pin 33 which is guided in a bearing 32 and whichis spring-urged to snap into a hole in one flank of the lever 22.

The slice-discharging operation of the fly re- Sults from the action ofunlocking the lever 22. This action is effected by a double-armed lever34 (Fig. 4.) One arm of this lever 34 extends inwardly, and this arm,when the cam carrier 25 moves into the position in which the dischargingoperation is performed (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) abuts against a permanentlystationary arm 36 which is rigidly secured to the vertical axle II by ascrew 35. The inwardly extending arm of lever 34, when engaged anddisplaced by arm 36, withdraws the end of the pin 33 from the hole inlever 22. of the stressed torsion springs 3I, the requisite suddendownward slice-discharging swing of the discharge fly 23, 24 takesplace, the lowermost position of the fly being indicated by dot-dashlines in Fig. 2.

In order to avoid with surety vibration of the discharge fly after itsdownward swinging motion, there is fulcrumed on the cross member 21 ofthe fly-carrier 25 a bent lever 38 forming a locking device. This leveris acted upon by a spring 31. In the path of movement of the inner edge39 of lever 38, the boss 28 has a crosscut recess and the pin 29 alsohas a cross-cut recess which is adapted to register with the recess inthe boss 28 when the pin occupies the position corresponding to thelowermost position of the discharge fly. Thus, when the slice-dischargeaction is completed, the inner edge 39 snaps like a latch into the thenregistering recesses and accordingly locks the pin 29 and fiy connectedthereto against further movement. Thus, vibratory movement of the fly ispositively prevented.

Unlocking of the pin 29 and discharge fly from the latch lever 38 iseffected by a sleeve-form catch 42 (see Figs. 5 and 6) turnable on a pin4| against the resistance of a torsion spring 40. The pin 4I extendsfrom an arcuate rod 43 projectingfrom the extension I6 of the firstsupport I21 (see also Fig. 2.) The rod 43 is adapted to force the catch42 to abut against the free end of the bent lever 38 at a timed instantin the cycle of operations and force the locking edge 39 from the recessin the pin 29, thus freeing the pin 29 and fly. The spring serves tomaintain the requisite operative positional relationship between thecatch 42 and the lever 38 during a short extent of relative movementbetween the support I21 and the fly-carrier 25.

In order to prevent sidewise movement of the entire conveyor and of thedischarge fly when both occupy the slice-discharging position (Figs. 1,2 and 1) during the short period required for the slice-dischargeoperation, there is provided on the fly-carrier 25 a latch 45 which isguided for vertical movement on the carrier 25 and which .is urgedupwardly by springs 44. The latch 45 is formed somewhat like a U withtwo limbs between which is left a vertical locking recess adapted toreceive the stationary arm 36 and thereby lock thecarrier 25 againstsidewise movement about the axle II, the conveyor then being fullyextended fanwise and being in efiect temporarily rigid with the flycarrier. The latch 45 Thereupon, under the action III) has an inclinedtongue 45 projecting from one of its limbs. This tongue is adapted to bebrought by the fly-carrier into engagement with arm 3 5, which thusdepresses the latch and finally enters the vertical locking recessbetween the limbs of the latch, which therefore locks itself to the arm36 and holds the fly-carrier fast. Unlocking of the fly-carrier from thelatch is effected by the lower inclined edge 4'! of a cam 48 which issecured to the extension I6 of the first su port I21, this edge actingto depress the longer limb 49 of the latch and thus unlatch the carrier25 from the arm 36 whenever the support I21 moves counterclockwise withthe carrier still locked at rest.

The operation of the stacking mechanism is as follows:

Assume that the carriage 5 is at the end of its slicing stroke, as inFig. 1, and that the discharge fly 22, 23, 24 is locked in its lowermostposition. The conveyer components I21 I29 are then fully extendedfanwise and locked with the fly against lateral movement by the latchQ5, 49.

The operator pulls the carriage which thus performs its return stroke.The first support I21 therefore is pulled by the band I? to return, inharmony with the carriage, in the counterclockwise direction (as viewedfrom above). The fly and its carrier are permitted to remain stationaryat the commencement of the return of the carriage because of the lostmotion given by the series of pin-and-slot connections (M, I5).Accordingly, the conveyor starts to collapse or close fanwise. Moreover,the catch 42 and the earns 30 and t8 come into action. As regards thecatch 42, the rod 43 moving with the support I21 causes said catch toforce the lever 38 into unlocking position, so that the pin 29 is freed.The inclined edge of cam 30 then engages and depresses the pin 29, sothat the discharge fly is forced upwardly into its upright position inwhich the slice-engaging ribs 24 are disposed inwardly of the pointedends of needles I31 I39 (Figs. 3 and 4). The fly-operating springs 3Iare thus stressed. When the fly reaches its fully raised position, thelocking pin 33 snaps into engagement with the lever 22 and so locks thefly against pivotal movement about the fulcrum 26. As regards the cam48, the limb 48 of the latch meantime looking the fly-carrier 25 to thestationary arm 3% is depressed by said cam, and after a short extent ofmovement the nose 46 comes below the arm 36, so that the cam-carrier isreleased and therefore becomes free to turn around the axle II. As soonas the conveyor has completely collapsed, the first and last support I21and I29 then being as close together as permitted by the pinand slotconnections l4, E5, or by inter-engagement between the adjacent verticalneedle-carrying limbs of the supports I22 I29, the flycarrier and thefly and other parts on said carrier all move in unison with the conveyoras a single unit under the pull of band I! to the end of the returnstroke. The conveyor is then beyond the guides 2t! and I9, which arelocated in the slicing position.

The operator now pushes the carriage which thus performs its slicingstroke. The first support I21 is forced by the band I! to advancetowards and past the guides I9, 20 in the slicing position, but theremaining supports I22 I29 remain initially at rest on account of thelostmotiondue to the pin-and-slot' connections I4, I5.

The needles I31 on the support I21 move throughout the entire slicingstroke in exact harmony with-that is, at the. same linear speed asthecarriage; As the needles I31 pass the guides 39, 29, the guide I9 turnsthe newly cut portion of the slice into engagement with'the needles andthe guide '20 presses the slice into impalement by them.

When the lost motion of the pin-and-slot connection Hi, I5 between thefirst and second supports I21 and I22 is ended, the second support isentrained by the first and therefore its needles I32, now passing theguides I9, 2!) at a speed in harmony with that of the carriage, impalethe slice. The same procedure occurs with the remaining supports E23 toI29 in succession, so that finally the completely opened conveyoradvances with the fully impaled slice to the slice-discharge positionwhich it reaches at the end of the slicing stroke. The said position isdefined by the stationary arm 36, which is engaged first by the nose 4%of the latch 45, 49 and next by the longer limbAQ. The action of thelatch, at this point in the cycle of operations, is to lock the entirestructure which has been rotating about axle ll, namely the openedconveyor, the fiy-carrier 25 and the fly and other parts on saidcarrier, against further lateral movement. Simultaneo-usly, the arm 38is engaged by the lever 34, which thus is displaced and caused towithdraw the locking pin 33 from the lever 22, so that instantaneouslythe already stressed springs 3! force the fly structure 22, 23, 24 toperform the slice-discharging action, the efiect of which is that theribs 24 strip the slice from the needles I31 I39 and deposit it upon aslice-receiving table (not shown).

The fly in its lowermost position is locked there by the lever 38, whoseedge 39 snaps into engagement with the operating pin 28.

It will be manifest that the end of the slicing stroke (Fig. 1) isdefinite, being fixed by the point of full engagement between the arm 36and the latch 45, 49 (Fig. 4). On the other hand, the end of the returnstroke can be varied at the will of the operator to suit the size of thesubstance. So long as the stroke is long enough for the needles i521 tobe returned beyond the guides i9, 28 in the slicing position, it isimmaterial to what further extent the conveyor and carriage are forced,because harmony between the conveyor needles and carriage during theimpalement oi the slices is ensured.

We claim:

1. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism comprising a plurality ofslice-engaging components movably mounted adjacent one another, aslice-discharging fly, a carrier for said fly, said carrier beingmounted to move with said fly in association with said components, alost-motion connection between said components permitting saidcomponents to close towards and open from one another to a limitedextent, means for moving one of said components between a slice-takingposition and a slice-discharging position, a motion-transmittingconnection between another of said components and said carrier, andmeans operable by relative motion between said one of said componentsand said carrier due to said lostmotion connection to actuate said flyin said slicedischarging position. I

2. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism comprising a plurality ofslice-engaging components co-axially mounted adjacent one another forrotational movement, said components constituting a slice conveyor, aslice-discharging fly,

a carrier for said fly, said carrier being mounted co-axially withrespect to said components to move rotationally with said fly inassociation with said conveyor, a lost-motion connection be- 101 mittingconnection between another of said com- I motion connection to actuatesaid fly in said slicedischarging position. I

3. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance-supportingcarriage reciprocable by a push-pull manual operation past said knife, aplurality of slice-engaging components movably mounted adjacent oneanother, a slice-discharging fly, a carrier for said fly, said carrierbeing mounted to move with said fly in association with said components,a lost-motion connection between said components permitting saidcomponents to close towards one another and to open from one another toa limited extent, an operative connection between one of said componentsand said carriage for moving said one of the components past aslice-taking position adjacent said knife at a linear speed in harmonywith the carriage to a slice-discharging position, a motion transmittingconnection between another of said components and said carrier, andmeans operable by relative motion between said one of the components andsaid carrier due to said lostmotion connection to actuate said fly insaid slicedischarging position.

4. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism comprising a plurality ofslice-engaging components movably mounted adjacent one another andconstituting a slice conveyor, a slice-discharging fly, a carrier forsaid fly, said carrier being mounted to move with said fly inassociation with said conveyor, a lost-motion connection between saidcomponents permitting said conveyor to close and open to a! limitedextent, means for moving one of said components between a slice-takingposition and a slice-discharging position, a motion-transmittingconnection between another of said components and said carrier, meansfor actuating said fly in said slice-discharging position, a lockingdevice engageable with said carrier in said slice-discharging positionto lock said carrier and conveyor therein, and means for retracting saiddevice by relative motion between 'said one of said components and saidcarrier.

, 5. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, asubstance-supporting carriage reciprocable by a push-pull manualoperation past said knife, a plurality of slice-engaging componentsco-axially mounted adjacent one another for rotational movement, saidcomponents constituting a slice conveyor, a slice-discharging fly, acarrier for said fly, said carrier being mounted co-axially with respectto said components to move rotationally with said fly in associationwith said conveyor, a lost-motion connection between adjacent ones ofsaid components permitting said conveyor to close and open fanwise to alimited extent, an operative connection between one of said componentsand said carriage for moving said one of the components past aslice-taking position adjacent said knife at a linear speed in harmonywith the carriage to a slice-discharging position, a motion-transmittingconnection between another of said components and said carrier, meansfor actuating said fly in said slicedischarging position, a lockingdevice engageable with said carrier in said slice-discharging positionto lock said carrier, conveyor and carriage for the performance of aslice-discharging operation, and means for retracting said device byrelative rotational motion between said one of said components and saidcarrier after such performance.

6. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism as claimed in claim 1 inwhich the said lost-motion connection comprises pins on a member of thesaid components and slots in the respective adjacent components, saidpins engaging in said slots.

7. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism comprising a plurality ofslice-engaging components movably mounted adjacent one another andconstituting a slice conveyor, 2. slice-discharging fly, a carrier forsaid fly, said carrier being mounted to move with said fly inassociation with said conveyor, a lost-motion connection between saidcomponents permitting said conveyor to close and open to a limitedextent, means for moving one of said components between a slice-takingposition and a slice-discharging position, a, motion-transmittingconnection between another of said components and said carrier, meansactuating said fly in said slice-discharging position to perform adownward slice-discharging operation, a latch device for locking saidfly on completion of said operation, means operable by relative motionbetween said one of said components and said fly carrier to retract saidlatch into unlocking position, and means also operable by said relativemotion to return the fly upwards.

8. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife,

a substance-supporting carriage reciprocable past said knife, aplurality of slice-engaging components movably mounted adjacent oneanother and constituting a slice conveyor, a slice-discharging fly, acarrier for said fly, said carrier being mounted to move with said flyin association with said conveyor, a lost-motion connection betweenadjacent ones of said components permitting said conveyor to close andopen to a limited extent, a flexible metal band connecting said carriageto said one of said components to move it to-and-fro at a linear speedin harmony with the carriage, a curved guide constraining said band to adeterminate path of movement, a

motionstransmitting connection between another of said components andsaid carrier, and means for actuating said fly in a slice-dischargingposition.

9. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism as claimed in claim 8 inwhich the said curved guide is formed with serrations in contact withwhich the said band moves.

10. In slicing-machine slice-conveying and slice-discharging mechanism,a slice conveyor comprising a plurality of slice-engaging comcomprisinga plurality of slice-engaging compoa nents which are co-axially mountedfor rotational movement and which are closable towards and openable fromone another fanwise, means for rotationally moving one of saidcomponents, and lost-motion connecting means between said componentslimiting the extent of their opening from one another.

12. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substancesupportingcarriage reciprocable by a push-pull manual operation past said knife,and slice-conveying and slice-discharging mechanism including a sliceconveyor comprising a plurality of slice-engaging components which aremovably mounted and which are closable towards and openable from oneanother, an operative connection between one of said components and saidcarriage for moving said one of the components past a slice-takingposition adjacent said knife at a linear speed in harmony with thecarriage to a slice-discharging position, and lostmotion connectingmeans between said components limiting the extent of their opening fromone another.

13. In slicing-machine slice-conveying and slice-discharging mechanism,a slice conveyor comprising a plurality of slice-engaging componentswhich are movably mounted and which are closable towards and openablefrom one another, means for moving one of said components, lostmotionconnecting means between said components limiting the extent of theiropening from one another, a locking device for locking said conveyorwhile said components in opened condition are in a slice-dischargingposition, and means for retracting said device during closure of saidcomponents following a slice-discharging operation in said position.

14. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance-supportingcarriage reciprocable by a push-pull manual operation past said knife,and slice-conveying and slice-discharging mechanism including a sliceconveyor comprising a plurality of slice-engaging components which aremovably mounted and which are closable towards and openable from oneanother, an operative connection between one of said'components and saidcarriage for moving said one of the compo-nents past a slice-takingposition adjacent said knife at a linear speed in harmony with thecarriage to a slice-discharging position, lost-motion connecting meansbetween said components limiting the extent of their opening from oneanother, a locking device for locking said conveyor and carriage whilesaid components in opened condition are in said slice-dischargingposition, and means for retracting said device during closure of saidcomponents following a slice-discharging operation in said position.

15. Slicing-machine slice-conveying and slicedischarging mechanism asclaimed in claim 14, in which the said lost-motion connecting meansconsist of pins on a number of the said components and slots in therespective adjacent components, said pins engaging in said slots.

16. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance-supportingcarriage reciprocable past said knife, and slice-conveying andslice-discharging mechanism including a slice conveyor comprisingaplurality of slice-engaging components which are movably mounted andwhich are closable towards and openable from one another, a flexiblemetal band connecting said carriage to said one of said components tomove it to-and-fro at a linear speed in harmony with the carriage, acurved guide constraining said band to a determinate path of movement,and lost-motion connecting means between said components limiting theextent of their opening from one another.

17. Slicing-machine slice-stacking mechanism as claimed in claim 16 inwhich the said curved u de is formed with serrations in contact withwhich the said band moves.

18. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance-supportingcarriage reciprocal past said knife, a slice conveyor rotatable pastslice-taking position adjacent said knife to and from aslice-discharging position, said conveyor comprising a plurality offoldable members, a slice-discharging fly operable in saidslice-discharging position, a flexible metal band connecting saidcarriage to said conveyor, and a guide constraining said band to adeterminate path of movement so that said band moves said foldablemembers one at a time progressively past the slice-taking position at alinear speed in harmony with that of said carriage.

19. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance-supportingcarriage reciprocable past said knife, a slice conveyor rotatable past aslice-taking position adjacent said knife to and from aslice-discharging position, said conveyor comprising a plurality offoldable members, a fly-carrier rotatable in association with saidconveyor, a slice-discharging fly pivotallymounted on said carrier forperformance of a slice-discharging operation in said slice-discharging.position, a flexible metal band connecting said carriage to saidfoldable members, a guide constraining said band to a determinate pathof movement so that said band drives said foldable members in harmonywith said carriage, and means for temporarily locking said foldablemembers, fly-carrier and carriage during performance of said operation.i

20. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a substance-supportingcarriage reciprocable by a push-pull manual operation past said knifewith variable stroke, and slice-stacking mechanism comprising aslice-conveyor whichis rotatably mounted beside said carriage, saidsliceconveyor including a plurality of foldable members, means operativelyconnecting saidmembers together, an operative connection between saidcarriage and all of said foldable mem-' bers for rotating said foldablemembers progressively from a variable extent beyond a slice-tak ingposition adjacent said knife to and from a' fixed slice-dischargingposition, and a slice-discharging fly operable in said slice-dischargingposition.

21. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, 2,substance-supporting carriage reciprocable by a push-pull manualoperation past said knife, and slice-stacking mechanism comprising aslice-conveyor which is rotatably mounted beside said carriage'and whichis adapted to close and open fanwise to a limited extent, an operativeconnection between said carriage and said conveyor for rotating saidconveyor from beyond a slice-taking position adjacent said knife to andfrom a fixed slice-discharging position, a flycarrier rotatable by saidconveyor with lost-motion due to the adaptability thereof to close andopen, a slice-discharging fly pivotally mounted on said carrier, meansforcing said fly to pivot upwardly into a slice-engaging position duringclosing of said conveyor, and means forcing said fly to perform adownward slice-discharging operation in said slice-discharging position.

22. A slicing machine comprising a rotary circular slicing knife, asubstance-carrying carriage movable past said knife, and slice-stackingmechanism including a slice'conveyor consisting of a plurality offoldable components all arranged upright side-by-side and eachpresenting a row of slice-impaling needles, an upright axle on whichsaid conveyor is rotatablymounted, coupling means between the respectivecomponents permitting a limited freedom of movement so that the foldablecomponents can open fanwise, and a positive connection between saidcarriage and said foldable components so that said components are movedprogressively past a slice-impaling position towards a slice-dischargingposition at a speed equal to that of the carriage.

23. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 22 in which the said couplingmeans comprise slots in certain of the said components and pins on therespective adjacent components, said pins and slots engaging one anotherwith predetermined play.

24. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 22 in which the said positiveconnection is between the said carriage and one of said components, andin which the said slice-stacking mechanism includes also aslice-discharging fly, a fly carrier on which said fly is pivotallymounted and a connection between another of said components and saidcarrier, so that said carrier is coupled to said one of said conveyorcomponents with intervening lost-motion due to the said coupling means.

25. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 22 in which the slice stackingmechanism includes also a slice-discharging fly, a fly carrier on whichsaid fly is pivotally mounted, a connection between the said sliceconveyor and said carrier so that said carrier rotates with saidconveyor about the said'axle into the slice-discharging positionf'anddetachable locking means for locking said conveyor and fly carrier insaid position for a pivotal slice-discharging operation by said fly.

26. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 22 in which the slice-stackingmechanism includes also a slice-discharging fly, a'fly carrier on whichsaid fly is pivotally mounted, a connection between the said sliceconveyor and said carrier so that said carrier rotates with saidconveyor about the said axle into the slice discharging position, meansoperable in said position to impart a downwardly pivotalslice-discharging movement to said fly, and detachable locking means forlocking said fly temporarily at the end of said movement.

27. 'A slicing machine as claimed in claim 22 in which the said positiveconnection between the carriage and the conveyor consists of a flexiblemetal band attached to said carriage and conveyor, and a groove formguide defining a deter minate path of movement for said band.

28. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 22 in which the said positiveconnection between the carriage and the conveyor consists of a flexiblemetal band attached to said carriage and conveyor, a groove form guidedefining a determinate path of movement for said band, and serrations insaid guide forming surfaces of contact for said band, said surfacesextending parallel to said path of movement.

29. A slicing machine comprising a base, a substance support movableacross said base in a rectilinear path, a slicing knife for cuttingslices from substance on the support, a slice receiving conveyor forconveying slices cut from the substance and comprising a plurality ofvertically disposed prong carrying members arranged in nestedrelationship, means operatively connecting said members, and means formoving said members progressively during movement of the substancesupport.

30. A slicing machine comprising a base, a substance support movableacross said base in a rectilinear path, a slicing knife for cuttingslices from substance on the support, a slice receiving conveyor forconveying slices cut from the substance and comprising a plurality ofvertically disposed prong carrying members arranged in nestedrelationship, means operatively connecting said members, and meanscontrolled by the movement of the substance support for moving saidmembers progressively one at a time to slice impaling position and thento discharging position, and means controlled by the substance supportfor returning said members from discharge position to nested position.

JOSEF JULIUS KALLC'JS. J HANN KALLos.

